Objective：This study aims to investigate the anticancer activities and molecular mechanisms of resveratrol on human gastric cancer BGC823 cells. Methods：Growth of BGC823 cells affected by resveratrol was detected by MTT assay. Effects of resveratrol on apoptosis，reactive oxygen species levels and mitochondrial membrane potential of BGC823 were determined by flow cytometry. Expression changes of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 proteins in BGC823 cells affected by resveratrol were detected by Western blot. Results：The results of MTT showed resveratrol inhibited the proliferation of BGC823 in a time-and dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 31.25-500.00 μmol/L resveratrol for 24 h and 48 h induced apoptosis of BGC823 cells，and the apoptosis rate reached （40.42±2.64）% and （75.02±2.36）% in resveratrol concentration of 500 μmol/L at 24 h and 48 h，respectively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that BGC823 cells treated with resveratrol were accumulated in ROS levels in cells for 24 h. Compared with the control group，BGC823 cells showed a significantly decreased in mitochondrial membrane potential after treated with 62.50-500.00 μmol/L resveratrol for 24 h（P < 0.05）. Western blot showed that expressions of cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 protein in BGC823 cells were increased after resveratrol treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion：Resveratrol can significantly induce cell apoptosis，which is related to the increase of ROS，the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and the regulation of cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 expression.